Emerging Māori playwright Chris Molloy's first professional production, The Last Taniwha, will be on show from 23 to 25 June at the Mangere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku as part of Matariki Festival 2011.

Directed by Kiel McNaughton (Scotty, Shortland Street) and starring Rob Williams (Korero Mai) Ash Jones (The Warriors Way) Joe Folau (King Kong); The Last Taniwha tells the story of a night of adventure for two young boys that ends up in an appalling act of bloodshed. Twenty years later, when they meet again, it seems an ancient taniwha's curse is still very much alive in the town where they grew up.

Chris was compelled to write The Last Taniwha in reaction to a number of recent alarming cases of infant and child deaths at the hands of close family members. As a result, the play delivers a powerful social message.

Chris Molloy says, “Being from a small rural town, I experienced myself how normalised violence was. An ordinary, even joked about, way of life. In this play, I want to explore the reasons of why that is. Who or what is to blame?”

The play also conveys an unmistakeable atmosphere and sense of nostalgia for people and places in the Urewera rohe (region).

Better known for his role as Scotty from Shortland Street, The Last Taniwha will be Kiel McNaughton's first full-length theatre production in the director's chair.

The Last Taniwha is also the first Māori play to be staged at the Mangere Arts Centre – Nga Tohu o Uenuku since it opened in September last year.

The Last Taniwha is proudly presented by Indigenous Theatre Group with the support of Mangere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku and Toi o Manukau.